Soil compacting machine

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a pavement compacting machine comprising at least one drum ( 11; 12 ) and an operator&#39;s platform ( 20 ) including at least one steering means ( 26; 27 ). The steering means ( 26; 27 ) can be horizontally swivelled from one side of the operator&#39;s platform ( 20 ) to the other to achieve high flexibility and a plurality of operator positions with minimum complication and simple design.

[0001] The invention relates to a pavement compacting machine comprising at least one drum and an operator's platform including at least one steering means.

[0002] One such pavement compacting machine (road roller) is known for example, from WO 99/49139 of the present assignee. It is often the case with such pavement compacting machines that the drum needs to be guided highly accurately along a prescribed line which, in general, is monitored visually by the operator. Due to the width of the pavement compacting machine monitoring cannot be done from the middle of the operator's platform, but only from its edge. This is why in known pavement compacting machines a steering means is provided on each side of the operator's platform. Since many pavement compacting machines are designed for travelling in both directions these two steering means need to be provided at the front and rear end of the operator's platform. This results in a highly complicated design involving four steering means.

[0003] It is thus the objective of the present invention to provide a pavement compacting machine which features high flexibility and a plurality of operator positions with minimum complication and simple design.

[0004] In accordance with the invention this objective is achieved for a pavement compacting machine of the aforementioned kind in that the steering means can be horizontally swivelled from one side of the operator's platform to the other.

[0005] The horizontally swivelled steering means provided in accordance with the invention now permits a change in the operator position from one side of the operator's platform to the other by the steering means being swivelled from one side to the other. If the pavement compacting machine is designed for working in one direction only, accordingly only a single steering means is now needed in thus substantially simplifying the structure and design whilst affording high flexibility.

[0006] Advantageous aspects and further embodiments of the invention read from the dependent claims.

[0007] To advantage, the steering means can be locked in two swivelled positions with any unwanted action being safely eliminated when working.

[0008] In one advantageous further embodiment the steering means is pivotably mounted by a horizontally located swivel arm on an operator control desk of the operator's platform in which the main indicating instruments are integrated without being included in the swivel action to thus reduce the mass weight needing to be swivelled to thereby enhance operator control.

[0009] More particularly, two steering means may be provided, the one of which is arranged fore, the other aft on the operator's platform. The pavement compacting machine can travel in both the forwards and reverse direction with the operator always viewing in the direction of travel.

[0010] In accordance with one advantageous aspect two operator seats are arranged juxtaposed. The operator seats are designed rotatable and/or laterally adjustable on the operator's platform. With this configuration only two operator seats and two steering means are needed to permit at least four operator positions. Due to the seats being swivable, work in both the forwards and reverse direction is now possible; the associated steering means then being swivelled to the desired seat.

[0011] In another advantageous aspect a power lever is arranged between the two operator seats from which it can be operated irrespective of the seat position in thus making only a single power lever needed for all operator positions to accordingly further simplify the design.

[0012] To advantage, two drums are provided, each swivelly connected to the operator's platform by an articulated joint. Making use of two swivable drums permits a tighter turning circle of the pavement compacting machine.

[0013] To advantage the drums can be swivelled simultaneously and independently of each other to thus substantially enhance the flexibility of the pavement compacting machine.

[0014] The invention will now be detained by way of an example embodiment as shown in the drawing diagrammatically, in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a pavement compacting machine;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the operator's platform of the pavement compacting machine as shown in FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of the arrow III as shown in FIG. 2; and

[0018] FIGS. 4 to 6 are each a diagrammatic plan view of a working position of the pavement compacting machine.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a pavement compacting machine in the form of a tandem roller 10 having two drums 11, 12. The drums 11, 12 are rotatably mounted in yokes 13, 14 connected by an articulated joint 15, 16 to an engine nacelle 19 of an operator's platform 20. Arranged above the drums 11, 12 are tanks 17 for water and tanks 18 for hydraulic fluid and fuel.

[0020] The operator's platform 20 comprises a platform 21 elastically mounted on a chassis. Secured to the underside of the chassis is the engine nacelle 19. Secured to the platform 21 are railings 22 and a ROPS bar or cab 23. Provided further are two seats 24, 25 as well as two horizontally swivable steering wheels 26,27.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2 there is illustrated a diagrammatic plan view of the operator's platform 20 with its platform 21 in more detail. FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of the arrow III as shown in FIG. 2. Each steering wheel 26, 27 is controlled by a horizontally arranged swivel arm 28 at an operator control desk 29. Integrated in each operator control desk 29 are indicator instruments (not shown). The steering wheels 26, 27 are swivable in the direction of the arrow 30 and lockable at least in the two positions shown.

[0022] The two operator seats 24, 25 are rotatable in the direction of the arrow 31. The seat 24 shown lower in FIG. 2 is additionally adjustable in the direction of the arrow 32 laterally to the operator's platform 20. Arranged between the operator seats 24, 25 is a common power lever 33. The power lever 33 can be operated from both seats 24, 25.

[0023] Due to the steering wheels 26, 27 being swivable from one side of the operator's platform to the other together with the rotatable operator seats 24, 25, a total of at least four operator positions is achievable. Unlike known pavement compacting machines, however, only two steering means 26, 27 are needed. Depending on the selected operator position it is established which steering means 26, 27 is responsible for controlling the movement of the tandem roller. For this purpose, the two operator control desks 29 are connected by power and control lines (not shown).

[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6 there is illustrated a plan view of various working positions of the tandem roller 10. The two drums 11, 12 can be swivelled simultaneously and each independently of the other. Shown in FIG. 4 is a working position in which the drums 11, 12 are swivelled for a left-hand or right-hand turn of the tandem roller 10; they feature the same swivel angle relative to the operator's platform 20.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 5 there is illustrated likewise a left-hand turn, whereby the drum 12 is swivelled by an angle greater than that of the drum 11.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 6 there is illustrated a working position termed “strut staggered” in which the drums 11, 12 are swivelled by the same angle relative to the operator's platform 20 but in parallel so that the tandem roller 10 moves in a straight line. Since the drums 11, 12 are staggered laterally this permits achieving a substantially increased working width of the tandem roller 10. In this working position too, the operator is able to precisely monitor and maintain the position of the tandem roller 10 from his desired operator position.

[0027] The tandem roller 10 in accordance with the invention with its swivable steering means 26, 27 now makes for enhanced flexibility and a plurality of operator positions with minimum complexity in thus achieving a simple design. 

1. A pavement compacting machine comprising at least one drum (11; 12) and an operator's platform (20) including at least one steering means (26, 27), characterized in that said steering means (26; 27) can be horizontally swivelled from one side of said operator's platform (20) to the other.
 2. The pavement compacting machine as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said steering means (26; 27) can be locked in at least two swivelled positions.
 3. The pavement compacting machine as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said steering means (26; 27) is pivotably mounted on an operator control desk (29) of said operator's platform (20) by a horizontally located swivel arm (28).
 4. The pavement compacting machine as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that two steering means (26, 27) are provided.
 5. The pavement compacting machine as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that two operator seats (24, 25) are arranged juxtaposed.
 6. The pavement compacting machine as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that one or both of said operator seats (24, 25) are designed rotatable and/or laterally adjustable on said operator's platform (20).
 7. The pavement compacting machine as set forth in any of the claims 5 and 6, characterized in that a power lever (33) is arranged between said operator seats (24, 25).
 8. The pavement compacting machine as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that two drums (11, 12) are provided, each swivelly connected to said operator's platform (20) by an articulated joint (15, 16).
 9. The pavement compacting machine as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that said drums (11, 12) can be swivelled simultaneously and independently of each other. 